Lamont urged to fund charter school
Danbury Latinos asking for ‘a school that will fight for diversity’
DANBURY — Arguing a charter school would provide a diverse curriculum and staff, advocates called on the governor to fund the one that has been proposed for the city.
This Danbury Prospect Charter School would be better for students from diverse backgrounds, supporters argued Friday in virtual news conference organized by Latinos for Education Advocacy in Danbury, known as LEAD.
“This is a school that will fight for diversity, a school that values representation and understands the importance of teaching Black and Latino history,” said Gabriela Perez, a recent Danbury Public Schools graduate. “This is a school that Danbury needs in order to move one step closer to education equity.”
Despite the recent $25 million gift for construction from a philanthropist, the charter school still needs state funding to move ahead.
Yet, Danbury’s state delegation opposes Prospect, contending it would take away resources from
the public schools. Leadership from the city’s teachers union has also argued against the charter school.
Supporters say it would alleviate overcrowding in the public schools and would be less expensive for taxpayers because the Prospect building would not be constructed on the taxpayers’ dime.
“These savings would allow Danbury to prioritize issues of equity and opportunity within our public school system,” said PJ Prunty, a father and head of the Greater Danbury Chamber of Commerce.
“We really should be looking at all options when it comes to public education. Now, more than ever, we need creative solutions to difficult financial challenges.”
State Sen. Julie Kushner, D-Danbury, said she agreed Danbury needs to better address overcrowding, equity and diversity in the schools.
But the way to do that is through the proposed $90 million career academy for middle and high school students, she said. The city is seeking a state grant that would cover 80 percent of the cost.
“This school will provide a high-quality academic program for middle and high school students that will focus on pathways to professional and middleclass careers,” Kushner said.
“It will address overcrowding, with a capacity of 1,400 seats. I will certainly stand with Black and Brown parents in making sure that the program encompasses the equity issues raised — a more diverse teaching staff and accessibility to all students, particularly our English Language Learner population.”
Other projects to address enrollment growth include preschool classrooms added this year and an annex at one elementary school. Construction of the latter is planned to begin in the summer.
The state education board approved the charter school more than two years ago, but the opposition from Danbury’s legislators has put the project at a standstill.
“Our community members have shown so much support,” Perez said. “Now it’s time for our elected leaders to act.”
This time, advocates appealed directly to Gov. Ned Lamont, saying they have 4,000 supporters and urging community members to call or email the governor. The spokespeople for the governor did not return a request for comment.
“We are humbled to have the support of LEAD and the many Danbury voices this group represents,” Penny Marzulli, deputy CEO of Prospect Schools, said in a statement.
“We have been fighting for Danbury Prospect to be funded for so long, so to have the support of these parents, leaders and community members truly affirms the strength of our program and the benefits we could bring to Danbury.”
Mini Santosh, a parent and child care director for the Community Action Agency of Western Connecticut, said Prospect would better reflect the diversity in Danbury.
“Danbury Prospect has built a culture of intentional diversity, designed a world-class international bachelor program and has developed a culturally rich curriculum,” she said.
“As an educator and as a parent, I feel that the biggest barrier to educational equity in Danbury is denying our students access to this great opportunity and continuing to ignore the voices of our community.”
The charter school could also hire more teachers from diverse backgrounds, so that students are better represented, Perez said.
“When students are taught by educators that look like and sound like them, they blossom into leaders,” she said. “I cannot think of anything this city needs more desperately than a school that will serve our most vulnerable.”